I'm Seeing My Reflection

This year is nearing an end.

By now, we certainly know,  our life passes through phases of complete Happiness and Cluelessness too. 

But if  I had been able to go back in time. I wished I:

Drew more sun & stars in my friends' sky. Those who passed through a gloomy year.

Wrote "I Love You", in all the Sandy beaches I burried my feet into.

Squeezed more Lemonade in that summertime & threw couple of chilled strawberries in.

Tossed my Blackberry in the hotel room & enjoyed the marvellous countries I visited

Hugged my Baba so often.

Never held back my tears while watching "The Help"

For always having faith in the years to come

Comfort Food. Love. Endorphines

I crawled in our lush sofa, dipping my spoon in the hearty veggies & chicken soup my mom taught me to make.

I had finally listened to her and decided to learn some of her cooking recipes.

I filled up the soup bowls which ironically has the tagline "No Soup For You" from the famous Seinfeld episode.

I covered my cold feet with a blanket and felt the relief.

Knowing that I just had an intense 30 minutes workout in the gym and 30 minutes in the kitchen, chopping and chopping all these veggies for the soup.

It's time to relax and have some peace of mind.

I had to call my mom to tell her how the soup turned out. Her instant answer was:"Ajal a3lmch el machboos??"

She always makes me laugh.

I felt the endorphines hormone kicking in. The happiness created a halo around me, and I just saw life in pink.

I've always felt like the little we make in our day, the more happy we are. It's not what we do, it's choosing the right moment and company to share it with.

The Weekender Thoughts

I opened my eyes, feeling the unbelievable craving for a bowl full of cherries & sour sour sour cranberries.

The supermarkets have been stocking these amazing Christmas-y treats, and it always took me back to October.

The cold mornings in Chicago, where that Jet lag made us awake at 3 in the morning. There was nothing to do at that time, but wear our heavy coats and wonder in the streets.

Cranberry trees were heavy and full to the extent of few of them dropping on the ground and getting smashed under the walkers' shoes.

Chicago was really red.

We would conclude our walk with the a freshly baked sesame bagel & cream cheese.  At times, we would indulge in their famous spinach & mushroom omelette.

I remember how I thought every African American lady was Oprah. I remember how I loved their cute accent and the kindness in their hearts.

I opened my eyes again. I'm back here, and I couldn't be happier.

To always buying memories. 


Happy Weekend everyone. 

One Fine Day

This morning, I plugged in my ipod and drove to my job. One hand on the steering wheel, the other holding a toasted cheese sandwich and kid's size banana milk on my lap.

"We Are The World" started playing.
Do you rememeber how famous was this song?
When it came out billions years ago I did not know what the words meant.
So Today for the very first time, I listened carefully.

Oh my god!

Did they know back then, we would need to hear these encouraging words this year? or has it been all these years that the world never stopped dealing with wars, hunger & sadness.

I've always felt that we can do so much better with our lives and our future. I'm a lady who tomorrow I will have children of my own. I need to teach them all the things I hated in our society, the differences, the lables, the discrimination.

There are so many things we can sheild the newer generation from learning, and it starts from us. From the new fathers and mothers this year.

I want to teach them to be forgiving, respectful of every single person in front of them regardless of anything.

I remember one evening, my hubby and I were talking to this gentlman behind the conceirge desk in our NYC hotel. We were wondering how come they celebrate Columbus Day in two different days.  He started explaining that the Italians and the Spanish people think that Columbus is from their roots.
He took a moment of silence and said: when we grew up, we never cared who is who. In school, I'm Mark, you are Steve. And that was it. Friends for ever.

I reflected that incident at my little sister in her primary school, she comes home every single day telling my mom: This girl asks me what is my family name and what does my father do? and where am I from exactly?

Yes, they are in Primary School. How did we reach this level?

How can I allow myself to raise judgmental kids?

I don't blame the kids. I blame their mothers. Those who thought, having kids is as simple as shopping for a shoe (well that's not easy too). How can a mother teach her kids to care about things that doesn't make the person, nor his abilities and intellegence. These are things, we are born with!! we cannot change.

Mothers, is that something you want to harvest in your children minds? The mentality of "I'm better than you"

Think again.

On the higher note. Read the song's lyrics. It will make you feel better.


There comes a time when we heed a certain call
When the world must come together as one
There are people dying
And its time to lend a hand to life
The greatest gift of all


We can't go on pretending day by day
That someone, somehow will soon make a change
We are all a part of Gods great big family
And the truth, you know,
Love is all we need


We are the world, we are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So lets start giving
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
Its true we'll make a better day
Just you and me

Send them your heart so they'll know that someone cares
And their lives will be stronger and free
As God has shown us by turning stones to bread
So we all must lend a helping hand


When you're down and out, there seems no hope at all
But if you just believe there's no way we can fall
Let us realize that a change can only come
When we stand together as one

Celebrating Our Blessings

I loved this December. I think I will always rememebr December 2011.

Have you all witnessed the tremendous feeling of joy and happiness 40 days prior to 2nd of December.

Wow!!

I really can't remember the last time, the people of the UAE were that happy since Baba Zayed passed away "Allah yer7amah eb ra7mtah"

It's been what? how many years of grief.

We needed that celebration, and everyone meant it.

Everytime I drive my car around Abu Dhabi, I would hang my head on the window, attempting to count how many flags I see on these beautiful houses. Ah hundreds and thousands of houses were dressed in Red, White, Black and Green.

Sheikh Mohamed Bin Rashed Al Maktoum, said in his speech days before the celebration, that most of UAE's generation are people around 25 years old. So, most of us, did not witness the real formation of Etihad. And it struck me how far we came today.

In just 40 years, we grew so big, our country's name is parallel to great developments, cherished culture and much more.

It is now our duty as the younger generation of Etihad, to continue the legacy Baba Zayed left for us. To continue educating ourselves, respecting others, raising our future children to be Emaraty by hearts.

Something else has struck me too, is that we know what the word "wa6an" means. We feel the belongings to a place.

How many people around the world, due to wars, and sad incidents never knew what that word meant or felt.

We should be really thankful for this blessing.  

Time for Change

When you reach the point of suffocating in your own breath. You should know, this is ain't your place nor your space.

When every morning you snooze your alarm for 10 times before you drag yourself out of bed, you should know, you won't enjoy that morning ride.

When you keep looking at your watch every second and realize, the 5 minutes between 7:55 and 8:00 felt like 5 hours. You should know, you are wasting these precious seconds of your living

I want to encourage everyone to listen to themselves. To really pay attention to their feelings.

Stop saying things will be better, later I will feel OK. You won't!!

If you are not happy with your current situation, you should do something about it. Whether its work, life, health.

You should take the lead and be the change.

We are living in the time, where we shouldn't expect things to get better on their own. We need to make that better life ourselves.

If you are not happy with work. Update your resume, find another place, and leave.

If you are not happy with your life. Take a vacation, explore a new place, smell different aroma.


Let 2012 be the year of change. The year to find your improved self.  A happier version of your soul.

And trust me, you won't regret it. I didn't :)